Guides to psychiatric medication | Treatments

Over time, I started to feel more confident to talk about my condition and medication.

Making sense of medication

We have articles covering key information on taking any type of medication for mental health. These articles should help you understand more about psychiatric drugs so you can make informed decisions.

Understanding medication

Looking for an introduction to medication for mental health? This resource explains what psychiatric medication is, what it can help with and how you might get it.

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What to consider before taking medication

Get practical information and advice, like what to ask your doctor and how to find out about the side effects of psychiatric medication.

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Stopping or coming off medication

This set of resources explains why you might choose to come off psychiatric medication, how to do this safely and where to get support. It also explains the half-life of drugs.

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Guides to different types of medication

You can use the following guides to find information about the exact type of medication you might take, including specific drug names.

Antidepressants

Antidepressants are psychiatric drugs used mainly to treat depression. Find out why doctors might prescribe them, how they work and the possible side effects of taking them.

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Antipsychotics

Doctors can prescribe antipsychotics to treat mental health problems whose symptoms include psychotic experiences. Get information about their uses, side effects and how to take them safely.

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Lithium and other mood stabilisers

Lithium and mood stabilisers can treat problems with mood swings and extreme highs or lows. Find out what they're for, how they might help and possible alternatives.

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Sleeping pills and minor tranquillisers

Sleeping pills and minor tranquillisers are drugs which slow down body and brain functions. Find out how they can treat severe anxiety, insomnia and more, as well as their potential side effects.

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Drug names A to Z

Find a list of names of all psychiatric drugs currently licensed for use in the UK, with a link to more information about each drug. Our list incudes generic drug names and also brand names.

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